Characterization of calcium oxalate biominerals in some (non-cactaceae) succulent plant species

The water-accumulating leaves of crassulacean acid metabolism plants belonging to five different families were investigated for the presence of biominerals by infrared spectroscopic and microscopic analyses. Spectroscopic results revealed that the mineral present in succulent species of Agavaceae, A...

ver descrição completa

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Monje, Paula V., Barán, Enrique José
Tipo de documento: artigo
Estado:Versão publicada
Data de publicação:2010
País:Argentina
Recursos:Universidad Nacional de La Plata
Repositório:SEDICI (UNLP)
Idioma:inglês
OAI Identifier:oai:sedici.unlp.edu.ar:10915/82454
Acesso em linha:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/82454
Access Level:Acceso aberto
Palavra-chave:Química
Biominerals
Crassulacean acid metabolism
Succulent plants
Whewellite
Descrição
Resumo:The water-accumulating leaves of crassulacean acid metabolism plants belonging to five different families were investigated for the presence of biominerals by infrared spectroscopic and microscopic analyses. Spectroscopic results revealed that the mineral present in succulent species of Agavaceae, Aizoaceae, and Asphodelaceae was calcium oxalate monohydrate (whewellite, CaC2O4 · H2O). Crystals were predominantly found as raphides or solitary crystals of various morphologies. However, representative Crassulaceae members and a succulent species of Asteraceae did not show the presence of biominerals. Overall, these results suggest no correlation between calcium oxalate generation and crassulacean acid metabolism in succulent plants.